Combination density cone and drop bucket



July 18, 1944. M. .1. ,SOWELL COMBINATION DENSITY CONE AND DROIP BUCKET Filed Feb. 10. 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Wannabe JSowe Z By @Mm July 18 1944. M. .J ow

COMBINATION DENSITY CONE AND DROP BUCKET Filed Feb. 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Malwrz'ce J 5 2126 Z Z y 13, 4 M. J. SOWELL ,35

COMBINATION DENSITY CONE AND DROP BUCKET Filed Feb. 10, 1942s s Sheet-Sheet 3 I m/entm Maurice JeSO OGZZ Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT ,orr cs COMBINATION DENSITY CONE AND D'ROP BUCKET Maurice J. Sowell, Clovis, N. Mex. Application February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,417

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for aiding in determining the size of a hole, by the sand method, in a base, subgrades, et cetera, or in determining the densities in asphaltic concrete, base course material and subgrade material. object of the present invention is to provide .a combination density cone and drop bucket of novel construction for these purposes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a combination density cone and drop bucket of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

The primary All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference I designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a combination density cone and drop bucket constructed in accordance with the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view. I

Figure 5 is a View in bottom plan of the device. Figure 6 is a top plan view of one .of the guide plates.

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view of one'of the guideplates. v

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of .one of the guide plates.

Figure 9 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.-

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the stand.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, itwill be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustratedcomprises compara tively large and small upper and lower cones I and 2, respectively, of suitable rust-proof metal,

the former constituting what may be considered a with a ball 6 whichis used for handling for weigh- The lower cone 2 has formed therein, atan intermediate point, a circular opening 1.; A hinged closure 8 is provided on the lower cone 2 for the opening I, said closure comprising a suitable securinglatch 9. The closure 8 conforms to the curvature of the cone 2. A circular protuberance ID on the inner side of the closure 8 is engageable in the opening J'l and flush with the inner periphery of the conel when said closure 8 is in closed position. This i s illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of. the drawings.

The invention further comprises a supporting stand ll of suitable metal for suspending the cones I and 2 in elevated position above the hole when the device is to be used 'as'a drop bucket. The stand ll comprises a base ring l2 having fixed thereon at spaced points upwardly converging legs 13. A relatively small ring I4 is fixed on the upper ends of the legs 13 for engagement beneath the bead 5 ofthe upper cone cular guide plates of the type shown at 15 of suitable metal, said guide plates having formed centrally therein circular openings 16 ofthefdesired diiferent diameters corresponding to the diameter of the hole to be dug or bored. An-

choring pins I! depend from the plate'l5'. Rising from the plate l5.is a' coaxial-ring I8 which is spaced from the opening I6, thus providing a seatl9.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing, particularly to'those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Brief- 1y, a hole of the desired diameter is first dug-or bored at an indefinite depth, duringavhich operation a guide plate l5 having an opening l6 .0! the correct diameter is used. Use of the guide plate I5 facilitates the digging or boring of a smooth, uniform hole. The cone I is filled to cone 2. The valve 3 is then closed and the device, with the sand remainingtherein, is again weighed. The difference in the two weights, minus;

the weight of the sand necessary to fill the lower cient number of compaction curves should be run on each type of soil present and at different depths to determine the control to be used for each density test. A compaction curve should be run now and then as the job progresses for a check. To determine the weight of sand to fill the bottom cone Without plate, weigh the apparatus filled with prepared sand, then place on a smooth firm surface; 'Be'sur'e the (opening in the bottom cone is securely fastened, then open valve completely and allow sand to run through '-'into bottom cone by gravitational flow. After the sand has stopped running, the valve is carecone 2 which has been previously determined,

usedto fill the hole. The density cone may be weight of sand used to fill bottom cone.

fully closed. The apparatus and remaining sand is then weighed. The difference in weight is the The process is continued until all of the sand in top used with or without the guide plate l5. When so used, the flange .4 rests on the seat. l 9 within the confines of the ring l8. The ring l8 constitutes a guide to facilitate mounting the cone. in

the same position over the hole each time, said ring also functioning as a retainer for securing. the. cone. against sliding movement on theplate. Thepointed pins l1 penetrate the soil for secur.-' ing the plate IS in position. By opening the closure 8, rock taken from the hole in the soil may be fed back into saidhole through the opening I while-the sand'isflowing, thereby, eliminating I 86 and a-maximum of 96. The asphalt void ratio should be..70 with .03 tolerance. I

For density determination with the, present combinationdensity cone and dropbucket, .the'

following equipment is used:

- 1. One combination cone and drop bucket complete with stand.

2. Two 18" guide plates with inch holes. i

'3. Two angers, one six-and one eight inch.

1 4. One four pound hammerp;

5.- One' 16" punch with tapered point. 6. One cup.

-'7. One scales, balance, 2000'grams capacity b 0.1 gram..- a

-8. Onescales; 70 .pound lever balance by; .02 equipped with thumb screw leveling device and under swung for field weighing.

. 9. One displacement can 8" diameter and 14 deep. i 10. Set of :density sieves, No. 10, No. 20, inch and rocker box. r

11. One H; omit-calibrating bucket with wide rim for supporting cone. w 12. 7"square point spade.

13. Twelve one pintfruit jars. 14. One bucket approximately .4cu. ft. volume.

six and eight Before-the job begins, approximately 300 pounds of density sand should be prepared and cone has passed through into bottom cone. Again 'fill the top cone with sand and repeat above' operation. The average of all weightsv of sand used to fill the bottom cone each timeis the weight'to use in determining densities. The weight of sand to fill bottom cone and plate is determined in thesame manner as above proce: dure with exceptionto the fact that a cloth should be placed under the plate. The unit weight of the sand is calibrated by use of the 6 cubic foot container with the'smoo'th flange for supporting the density apparatus. An average of the unit weights determined by starting the sand at various levels in the top cone should be used. A unit weight should berunregularly for a check.

Instructions for taking density and operation of equipment 1. An area should be smoothed off large enough for the eighteen inch plate and sufiloiently smooth-so that the plate will rest firm. The rim of hole in plate should be touching firm ground at all points. In driving spikes on bot tom of plate into the ground, the four pound hammer is used and the blows should be delivered directly over spikes so as to avoidwarping plate. If a hole of six inches or'less depth is desired, the eight inch plate should be used, and for a hole deeper than six inches, the six inch plate should be used.

2. The material taken from hole should be weighed immediately and a moisture sample taken, enough for not less than one hundred grams. The moisture sample should be placed in an air-tight container. The walls of the hole should be smooth, undisturbed and perpendicular as possible. Should there be 12% or less rock present, the material can be passed through a sieve and the rock retained weighed and fed back into the hole through the opening in bottom cone. Should there be over 12% rock present, the rock should be taken to laboratory Where the weight and volume can be determined.

3. The valve between cones should be closed, the top cone then filled with prepared and calibrated sand. Remove the cones from stand and weigh.

4. This operation can be performed with or without the plate. The apparatus is placed over the hole with bottom cone completely covering hole. The valve between cones is then opened completely allowing sand to pass through. Rock should be'fed back into the hole through opening in bottom cone while sand is running. Care should be taken not to jar apparatus while valve is open. After sand has stopped running, the valve should be carefully closed. The apparatus with remaining sand is then weighed and weight recorded.

5. The sand should be kept clean by passing through a No. 10 sieve and retained on a No. 20 sieve. By doing this a large per cent of the sand used in hole can be salvaged each time.

6. The scales should be level when weighing.

'7. The control density is determined from material passing one-fourth 4) inch sieve.

8. Moisture sample in rocky material is taken from material passing one-fourth /4) inch sieve. Care should be taken to insure correct moisture determination.

9. The rock taken to laboratory should be separated from the soil by washing over a one-fourth A) inch sieve and air dried before Weighing.

The following are examples of densities taken in subgrade and base course material.

(l) Wt. soil+container 25. 22 (2). Wt. empty container 5.87 (3) Net wt. soil+rock (l)(2) 19.35 (4) Wt. sand-l-container 40. 38 (5) Wt. residue+container 19.10

gettvgt sandi (used) (4)(5) 21.287.93 =13.35 n1 san 89. 4 (8) Vol. hole (6) (9) Wt. rock (air dried) 28, 317 28, 317 (11) Wt. of soil (3)(9) (12) Vol. of soil (8)-(l0) (13) Wet unit wt. of soil ig-g 123.8

(14) Moisture content of soil ll.

15) Dry unit wt. of soii'm (16) Maximum dry unit wt. of soil (from curve) 117.1

(17) Per cent compaction X100 95. 2

NOTE: Rock is material retained on yi-inch sieve. Soil is material passing M-incli sieve.

1 Wt. of sand in cone and plate.

I Wt. of sand in hole.

vol. disp. grams is used to determine the volume of rock, should the quantity of rock taken from the hole be greater than 12% of the total sample. The meaning of the terms in the equation is as follows: Vol. of disp. grams represents the weight or Vol. rock= volume of water the rock will displace in grams. 28,317 is the number of grams in a cubic foot of water. In this particular sample, the amount of rock displaced 962.3 grams. 962.3 divided by 28,317 equals .03040 cubic foot, the volume of the rock in said sample. The word volume could be left out of the equation if the water displaced by the rock is weighed on gram scales. In this test, however, a graduated cylinder in cubic centimeters was used to measure the water displaced. By all standard practices, one cubic centimeter of water is one gram.

It is believed that the many advantages of density equipment embodying the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred form of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Hole size determination equipment of the character described comprising opposed upper and lower cones joined to each other and communicating at their apices, the upper cone for the reception of a supply of sand, the lower cone having a side opening therein at an intermediate point, a closure for said opening, and a valve for controlling the communication between the cones.

2. Hole size determination equipment of the character described comprising opposed upper and lower cones having their apices joined and communicating with each other, the upper cone having an outturned bead at the top and being adapted for the reception of a supply of sand, a valve controlling the communication between the cones, and a stand engageable beneath the head of the upper cone for suspending the cones in elevated position above a hole.

3. Hole size determination equipment of the character described comprising a plate for resting on the ground in which a hole is to be formed, said plate having a central opening therein corresponding to the desired diameter of the hole, means for anchoring the plate to the ground, a coaxial ring rigid with and rising from the plate and spaced from the opening, and a pair of opposed, communicating upper and lower cones, a valve placed at the junction of the cones to control communication therebetween, said upper cone for the reception of a supply of sand, the lower cone being engageable on the plate within the confines of the ring.

MAURICE J. SOWELL. 

